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dianed's review against another edition
5.0
I've read many books by Deb Marlowe including some of the Half Moon House series but for some reason, I had never gotten around to the book that started it all. This book really tells 2 stories. First, each chapter includes an excerpt from Hestia Wright's Journal - they explain the circumstances of her ruin that led to her rise to Queen of the Courtesans and then founder of the Half Moon House for women.
The main story is part mystery/ thriller and part romance. The book begins with Brynne Wilmott betrothed to Lord Marstoke, a mean and evil man. Her father had traded her to Marstoke in return for his favor. While attending a ball, Marstoke drags Brynne into an empty room and assualts her. In the middle of his abuse, the Duke of Aldmere breaks into the room looking for Marstoke. It seems that Marstoke has had a hand in the disappearance of the Duke's brother.
Brynne is a stong, independent woman and she stands up for herself, even if it means leaving her life in the ton behind. She uns away to Hestia's Half Moon House and begins to make a new life for herself.
It seems that whatever Marstoke is involved in the plan will drag both Brynne and Aldmere into trying to present it. The Duke, is the strong silent type who has learned to never let anyone in to his life and so when Brynne begins to crack his carefully cultivated shell he finds her hard to resist. The more she pushes the more he wants to take care ofher which is exactly what she doesn't want.
The two work together to uncover a plot to ruin the British aristocracy and work through danger from all sides to prevent national chaos.
Deb Marlowe does an amazing job of creating characters who you can't help but cheer for and waht to see succeed. Plus, this book sets up the books that follow in the series. It is a well written story with an amazingly happy ending.
The main story is part mystery/ thriller and part romance. The book begins with Brynne Wilmott betrothed to Lord Marstoke, a mean and evil man. Her father had traded her to Marstoke in return for his favor. While attending a ball, Marstoke drags Brynne into an empty room and assualts her. In the middle of his abuse, the Duke of Aldmere breaks into the room looking for Marstoke. It seems that Marstoke has had a hand in the disappearance of the Duke's brother.
Brynne is a stong, independent woman and she stands up for herself, even if it means leaving her life in the ton behind. She uns away to Hestia's Half Moon House and begins to make a new life for herself.
It seems that whatever Marstoke is involved in the plan will drag both Brynne and Aldmere into trying to present it. The Duke, is the strong silent type who has learned to never let anyone in to his life and so when Brynne begins to crack his carefully cultivated shell he finds her hard to resist. The more she pushes the more he wants to take care ofher which is exactly what she doesn't want.
The two work together to uncover a plot to ruin the British aristocracy and work through danger from all sides to prevent national chaos.
Deb Marlowe does an amazing job of creating characters who you can't help but cheer for and waht to see succeed. Plus, this book sets up the books that follow in the series. It is a well written story with an amazingly happy ending.
sassysmutlover's review against another edition
5.0
Adventure and suspense feel the pages of this book and it will keep you hooked from the start. The mystery of the game Marstoke talks about was something I couldn't even begin to figure out what it was about. The sparks between Brynne and Nathan are evident to everyone, but themselves. I loved how they were with each other from the start even if they didn't exactly get along at times. The Love List is a shocker in itself.
Brynne is a very strong girl that will have you cheering for her from the start. When she realized what kind of man Marstoke was and that her father couldn't help she did what she had to and ran. She needed to put herself first and thanks to Hestia she found her dreams and became an even stronger woman. I loved how smart she was and that she didn't shy away from anything.
Nathan is a man that is lonely and comes off as cold at times, but he loves his brother and will do anything to help him. His past can break our heart and make you love him more once you understand him and why he is the way he is. I loved how he didn't force her to do what he wanted and let her make the choice. He also was a good fighter.
The diary entries of Hestia were a great addition and I wanted to know so much more about her and the girls in her house.
Brynne is a very strong girl that will have you cheering for her from the start. When she realized what kind of man Marstoke was and that her father couldn't help she did what she had to and ran. She needed to put herself first and thanks to Hestia she found her dreams and became an even stronger woman. I loved how smart she was and that she didn't shy away from anything.
Nathan is a man that is lonely and comes off as cold at times, but he loves his brother and will do anything to help him. His past can break our heart and make you love him more once you understand him and why he is the way he is. I loved how he didn't force her to do what he wanted and let her make the choice. He also was a good fighter.
The diary entries of Hestia were a great addition and I wanted to know so much more about her and the girls in her house.
ham6363's review against another edition
4.0
This is a Regency romance with a dash of intrigue. Brynn is engaged to Lord Marstoke. Her father set up the engagement to further his political goals. Marstoke attempts to rape, but is stopped by the Duke of Aldmere.
Brynn is forced to flee her home to keep from becoming Marstoke's bride. She moves into the home of a courtesan and starts to help the poor. She is reunited with duke a few months later to help him rescue his missing brother who is mixed up in Marstoke's political web. Brynn and the duke unravel the mystery and fall in love. An entertaining read.
A received a review copy from NetGalley.
Brynn is forced to flee her home to keep from becoming Marstoke's bride. She moves into the home of a courtesan and starts to help the poor. She is reunited with duke a few months later to help him rescue his missing brother who is mixed up in Marstoke's political web. Brynn and the duke unravel the mystery and fall in love. An entertaining read.
A received a review copy from NetGalley.
dianed's review
5.0
I've read many books by Deb Marlowe including some of the Half Moon House series but for some reason, I had never gotten around to the book that started it all. This book really tells 2 stories. First, each chapter includes an excerpt from Hestia Wright's Journal - they explain the circumstances of her ruin that led to her rise to Queen of the Courtesans and then founder of the Half Moon House for women.
The main story is part mystery/ thriller and part romance. The book begins with Brynne Wilmott betrothed to Lord Marstoke, a mean and evil man. Her father had traded her to Marstoke in return for his favor. While attending a ball, Marstoke drags Brynne into an empty room and assualts her. In the middle of his abuse, the Duke of Aldmere breaks into the room looking for Marstoke. It seems that Marstoke has had a hand in the disappearance of the Duke's brother.
Brynne is a stong, independent woman and she stands up for herself, even if it means leaving her life in the ton behind. She uns away to Hestia's Half Moon House and begins to make a new life for herself.
It seems that whatever Marstoke is involved in the plan will drag both Brynne and Aldmere into trying to present it. The Duke, is the strong silent type who has learned to never let anyone in to his life and so when Brynne begins to crack his carefully cultivated shell he finds her hard to resist. The more she pushes the more he wants to take care ofher which is exactly what she doesn't want.
The two work together to uncover a plot to ruin the British aristocracy and work through danger from all sides to prevent national chaos.
Deb Marlowe does an amazing job of creating characters who you can't help but cheer for and waht to see succeed. Plus, this book sets up the books that follow in the series. It is a well written story with an amazingly happy ending.
The main story is part mystery/ thriller and part romance. The book begins with Brynne Wilmott betrothed to Lord Marstoke, a mean and evil man. Her father had traded her to Marstoke in return for his favor. While attending a ball, Marstoke drags Brynne into an empty room and assualts her. In the middle of his abuse, the Duke of Aldmere breaks into the room looking for Marstoke. It seems that Marstoke has had a hand in the disappearance of the Duke's brother.
Brynne is a stong, independent woman and she stands up for herself, even if it means leaving her life in the ton behind. She uns away to Hestia's Half Moon House and begins to make a new life for herself.
It seems that whatever Marstoke is involved in the plan will drag both Brynne and Aldmere into trying to present it. The Duke, is the strong silent type who has learned to never let anyone in to his life and so when Brynne begins to crack his carefully cultivated shell he finds her hard to resist. The more she pushes the more he wants to take care ofher which is exactly what she doesn't want.
The two work together to uncover a plot to ruin the British aristocracy and work through danger from all sides to prevent national chaos.
Deb Marlowe does an amazing job of creating characters who you can't help but cheer for and waht to see succeed. Plus, this book sets up the books that follow in the series. It is a well written story with an amazingly happy ending.
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